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Common
Foot Conditions
Hammer Toes
Patients often refer to all forms of toe abnormalities as
a hammer toe. There are in fact four main forms of toe abnormalities,
hammer toes, claw toes, mallet toes and trigger toes. A hammer
toe can be best described as an abnormal contraction or "buckling"
of a toe. This occurs due to a partial or complete dislocation
of one of the joints that form the toe. As the toe continues
to be deformed, it will press up against the shoe and may
cause corns.
Appearance
of Hammer Toes
-
There are two joints in the lesser toes and one joint in the
large toe. If the deformity occurs in the lesser toes and in
the joint nearest the nail, it is called a mallet toe.
-
If the deformity occurs in the lesser toes and in the joint
nearest the foot, it is called a hammer toe ( View hammer toe).
-
If the deformity in the lesser toes involves both of the joints,
then the toe is referred to as a claw toe (View claw toe).
-
If the deformity occurs in the large toe, it is known as a trigger
toe.
- A hammer
toe may be painful, especially when irritated by a shoe.
- All four
toe conditions may cause cramps in the toes, foot and leg due
to the abnormal function of the tendons in the foot.
- If a mallet
toe has occurred, you are likely to suffer from a corn at the
end of the toe.
- A hammer
toe may cause a corn on the top of the toe (View corn and hammer
toe).
- Infections
and ulcers can also occur.
- In severe
cases a mallet toe, trigger toe, claw toe or a hammer toe may
create a downward pressure on the foot, which can result in
hard skin and corns on the soles of the fee
Causes
of Hammer Toes
-
Inappropriate shoes.
-
Flat feet can result in hammer toes.
-
High arched feet can also result in buckling toes.
-
A major cause is in hereditary (family), all the toe conditions
mentioned could be acquired due in hereditary factors.
-
Bunions are a major cause of hammer toes.
-
Claw toes are usually the result of poor fitting footwear. For
many people, the second toe is actually longer than the great
toe. Shoes are sized to fit the great toe, the second (and maybe
even the third toe) will have to bend to fit into the shoe.
Shoes that are pointed make matters even worse. Combine pointed
shoes with high heels; the foot is under similar pressure as
if it was constantly being pushed downhill into a wall.
-
Rheumatoid arthritis can also lead to bunions, which in turn
can lead to hammer toes.
Treatment
for Hammer Toes
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